Method of making flexible shafting



June 24- WEQ. L. H. MQRHN METHOD OF MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 13 INVENTOR lau/s Nor/n M1144 ATTORNEY Jume 24- EQU L. H. MQRaN 1,767fi941 METHOD OF MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Original Filed April 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L ou/s h. Mar/n M M ATTORNEY June 24- 193(1). 11.. H. MORIN 197@7@94 EQETHOD OF MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Original Filed April 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z g/ INVENTOR Lou/s /7 70///7 BY/ p ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1930 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS H. MORIN. 017 NEW YORK, N. .Y.

METHOD MAKING FLEXIBLE SHAFTING Original application filed April 13, 1928, Serial No. 269,718. Divided and this application filed Novembers, 1928. Serial No. 319,106.

This invention relates to the manufacture of flexible shafting such as is, commonly used to transmit torque along a'tortuous path" and is a division of my Flexible shafting of this type is generally composed of a core wire surrounded by laminations of wire wound around the core wire, the successive layers generally being wound in relatively reversed directions. Heretofore the shafting was usually made by devices which coiled the wire in layers around the core wire asthe core wire was pulled -along by some independent means or as the coiling device was moved axially along the core wire. Other machines gave a twist to the core wire as it was pulled along b some independent means. In devices of t is nature, where independent means were used for causing relative lineal 'movement between the core wire and the'layer wire, it is extremely difficult to properly coordinate the lineal feeding movement relatively to the wrapping movement due to variations in wire size and other conditions often resulting in an unevenly wound product.

It is the urpose of my invention'to pro- ,vide a met od whereby the feeding action is accurately controlled and automatically to compensates for any variations in wire size. In accordance with my method, the very winding operation or the laying of the convolutions of layer wire upon the core wire" produces a feeding action which may be said to be inherent in the winding or manufacture of shafting, i. e., the winding of the layer wire upon the core develops a'propelling action of the core in'a lineal direction, thus eliminating the necessity of a separate 40 feeding element and its coordination with the other. elements of the machine necessary. In carrying out my method, I make use of the well known principle ofthe wedge and one of its applications. v

.In the making of. flexible sha fting and in analogous arts which employ the step of automatically winding strand material upon a traveling core, it has been customary to cause longitudinal movement of the article as fast as it'is formed by means of a wedgcopending application- I 5 Serial No. 269,719, filed April 13, 1928.

without interfering "ing action. In other words, the strand or strands of material in their passage from the spools to the axis about which they are wound, encounter an inclined surface which develops a propelling force in the strand longitudinally of the axis of the finished product. i i

With single head machines it is avery simple matter to apply this principle in the production of flexible shafting .formed by the Winding of successive layers of wire about a core wire.

passes in succession through the several heads and has the layers of wire wound successively on it. It is necessary that the core wire shall be kept comparatively'taut and Difficulty, however, arises in applying this principle to multiple head machines. It has been found that it is moving at a constant rate of speed and that there be no open spaces between the convolutions of the wires of the several layers but that the convolutions be closely compacted. k

Theoretically, it is possible to so relate the speed of rotation of the several heads that with a given size of wires they will wind their respective layers with nice pre cision. Practically, however, this is not possible. The chief difliculty arises from variations in the size of the wire from the size at which it is rated. A wire which was-rated at a certain gauge will almost inevitably vary as much as one-half thousandth above and below that size from the beginning to .the end of the wire. This constant variation in the wire size has to be compensated for with the propelling function of the inclined surfaces.

I have found that this is very satisfactorily done if the inclined surfaces are so shaped that the wires may take a turn or. two about them at the initiation of the operation and increase or decrease this surpus or spare wire between the spool and core as the diameter of the wire varies throughout a single spool.

In accordance with my invention I make the downward component of the force con siderabl exceeds the component normal to the sur ace. I have not been able to use satisfactorily a cone having an angle of less than 45 and I prefer an angle of not less than 60.

The gear ratio for each head is properly selected according to the size of the wire of the spools on that head. The wires will be given at least a partial turn around the cone. If the diameters of the wires on the several spools of the head do not vary throughout their length, there will be no variation in the extent of the wire turned about the cone. If, however, the size of one or more of the strands temporarily increases, the wire will automatically build up on the cone; and similarly, if the size of one or more of the wires decreases temporarily, the wire will automatically be gradually fed off from the cone until normal conditions are resumed. Without some such compensation or differential action I have found it impossible satisfactorily to use the multiple head machine in theproduction of flexible shafting.

Preferably, there will be provided after the last head a friction device through which the shafting is fed and which will provide a force opposing the propelling force of the cones and thereby cause the turns of the several layers to be closely wound. This opposing or retarding force will be adjustable to accommodate it to the conditions desired.

Likewise, I find it advantageous, though not necessary, to employ an auxiliary feeding device after the friction member just mentioned so as to relieve the cones of the necessity of performing all the propelling action and at the same time maintain the finished shaft taut between the last head and the auxiliary feeding device. Thereafter the shafting may be reeled or Otherwise disposed of.

As one form of machine for carrying out my method, I have devised the following machine which forms the subject matter of my copending application above referred to and which will be described here to illustrate more clearly my method.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing the details of portions of the last winding head and associate parts;

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the upper end of the retarding device;

Fig. 4, vertical section of one of the rotary winding heads;

thus retarding rotation of the spools. the center of the inner flange 19 there-is seangle bracket 5 rigidly secured to the bed 1 ad acent the right or head end thereof, the bracket 5 serving to support a suitable spindle and retaining means for rotatably carrying the spool of core wire. Four similar winding heads fl through which the core Wire is passed to have a plurality of layers of wire wrapped therearound are rigidly secured to the bed in alignment. Following the last head 6 there is a flexing head 7 and an auxiliary feed device 43 both also rigidly secured to the bed 1 coaxially with the other heads. The winding heads, flexer, 'and auxiliary feedin device are all rotated from a common shaft 8 through cross shafts 8 and suitable gearing adapted to drive successive heads in relatively reversed directions and also adapted to be ad'usted to vary the driving speed as described in greater detail in my copending application referred to. The shaft 8 may be driven by a belt 9 passing over a pulley 10 which may be clutched and declutched to the shaft 8 through a suitable clutch 11, the belt 9 being drivenfrom any suitable source of power. The clutch may conveniently be controlled from any point along-the length of the machine by means of a rod 12 extending the full length of the machine and connected to the clutch through a lever 13 pivoted to the frame at 14.

Within each of the winding heads or turrets 6 shaft 15 is rotatably supported on suitable taper bearings 16. The end of the shaft is formed with a flange 17 to which is riveted or otherwise secured a disc or plate 19. A second annular disc 20 of substantially the same diameter is secured'to disc 19 in parallel spaced relationship thereto by means of spacing ferrules 21. Spools of wire 22 which supply the layer wire to be wrapped around the core wire are rotatably supported between the two discs 19 and 20 upon spindles 23 mounted upon ball bearings 24. In the illustrated embodiment 5 such spools are shown upon each head but it is obvious-that any desired number of spools may be employed. The outer disc 20 has 5 hollow bosses 25 arranged around its periphery in such positions as to lie adjacent the outer flanges of the five spools. \Vithin these bosses there is positioned cup-like friction elements 26, constantly urged against the spool flanges by compression springs 27,

cured thereto a wire feeding and guiding device 28 having a central bore through which the core wire passes and having one end of its outer surface smooth and tapered as at 28, that is having the sha e of a truncated cone with its small end 0 such a diameter as to exactly surroundthe core wire or the core wire with its previous layer or layers thereon. The inclined surface is smooth and preferably very hard for means which will appear hereafter. A keeper 30 is supported upon 4 studs 31 threaded into flange 17, the keeper having a central bore through which the core, wire passes, a portion of the inner surface of which is inclined outwardly at an angle complementary to the inclined surface 28 of the outer portion of member 28. The keeper 30 is resiliently urged into contact with the feeding and guiding device 28 by means of springs 32 surrounding the outer ends of studs 31 the tension of the springs being variable by adjusting the nuts on the studs.

Between the output side of the last winding head 6 and'the rotary flexin head 7 which may be of any type and is illustrated as being like that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No.. 209,205, there is provided a friction block or retarding device 35 comprising a standard the upper, end of which is formed into a pair of viselike gripping jaws 36 and 37 pivotally connected together at 38 and resiliently urged together by spring 39 surrounding) an eyebolt 40 and being held under tension y means of a wing nut 41. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to provide an auxiliary feeding device although the same is not necessary for the normal operation of the machine. In such instances a gripper or feeding unit may be employed and secured to the bed of the machine at the discharge end of the flexing head '7 or between the last winding head 6 and the flexing head 7. In the illustrated embodiment I have shown a feeding unit 43 secured to a bracket 44 attached to the end of bed 1. The feedin device shown comprises a head having 3 all chucksfor gripping the wire, each of the chucks being moved longitudinally at alternate times with overlapping strokes to continuously feed the core wire with its surrounding layers in a steady continuous manner. Such a feeding device is shown and described in my copending application Serial #209,205 and will not be described in detail here since any continuous feeding device may be utilized and driven from the common shaft 8 through a cross shaft 8A.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The core wire is led off the spool 3 and inserted through the first head 6. The wires from the spools 22 of the first head 6 are then led from the spools and attached to the core wire after which the first head is rotated in a given direction. As thevfirst head is rotated to lay the wires of the spools 22 thereon around the core wire in closeconvolutions to form the first lay'er thereointhe wires take a partial turn around the conical surface of the guiding and feeding member") 28. These wires have a tendency to slide "down this inclined smooth surface under the keeper 30 which tendency is increased by the friction devices 26 retarding the unwinding of spools 22. This tendency of the layer wires to slide down the inclined surface of member 28 and to crowd inbetween the last convolution wound and the end of the member 28 urges the core wire with the first layer thereon longitudinally toward the next head or layer. The movement of the wires down the inclined surface is restricted by' the core and tends to aid in the feeding of the core wire. The keeper also uides the layer wires to a given point on t e conical surface regardless of the point at which it leaves the spool. As the core wire traverses 'through each head the action is the same,

it being understood of course that each head is designed to lay a separate layer on top of the previous layer. and wound in a direction reversed relatively to the preceding layer. As the core wire with four layers thereon emerges from the last winding head 6 it is passed through the retarding device 35- which frictionally engages the shaft to hold against the inherent feeding action of the four previous heads constituting a. resistance against the inherent feeding action and thus causing the convolutions of wires forming the layers to be closely wound, that is it prevents the feeding action from going too fast and resulting in a loosely wound shafting.

-Leaving this device the flexible shaft is passed through a rotary flexer 7 which serves to flex the finished cable to make it limber and pliable. Emerging from the flexer the shafting is engaged by the auxiliary feeding device, if such is employed, from which the shafting may be wound on reels or any other suitable container for holdin the shafting.

It is obvious that various 0 anges may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims:

1. The method of making flexible shafting having a core wire and a plurality of layers of wire successively wound thereon consisting in passing the core through the axes of a plurality of cones having an apex angle ,of at least 45 and disposed in succession and rotating a wire strand about the axis of each cone and thereby windingit about the core and simultaneously pulling it obliquely about the conical surface and utilizing the downward components of the force of the wires thus created to advance the core through the cones.

2. The method of making flexible shafting having a core wire and a plurality of layers of wire successively wound thereon consisting in passing the core through the axes of a plurality of cones having an apex angle of at least 45 and disposed in succession and rotating a plurality of wire strands about the axis of each core thereby winding them as a band about the core and presenting them individually to the conical surface at different circumferential points and winding them obliquely more or less about the conical surface before reaching the core and-simultaneously pulling them in the direction of their obliquity around the conical surface and thus creating a force in the wires having a component downward of the conical surfaces suflicient to propel the core continuously through the cones, and continuously taking up the finished shafting as it is thus advanced by the cones.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

LOUIS H. MORIN. 

